Isolation and characterization of endophytes isolates from akar gaharu

A study was carried out to isolate the endophytes from a wood-tendril plant known as akar gaharu that can be found in the jungle near Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. A total of 48 isolates were grown on the PDA and left for around three to five days, but only 16 isolates (AG1-4A, AG2-4A, AG3-1B, AG3-2A, AG3-6, AG4-1B, AG4-4A, AG4-6, AG4-7, AG5-1, AG6-5, AG7-2, AG7-3, AG7-4, AG7-6 and AG7-7) were successfully grown and chosen for further identification. Identification through colony growth morphology and microscopic observation was done after a week subculture of isolates. The morphology of the endophytes isolates was observed and classified which were based on their colour, shape and mycelia for the colony observation on PDA, while observation on structure of hyphae, spore, and conidia were for the microscopic examination. Among the 16 endophytes which were subjected to characterization, nine species of endophytes have been identified. Two isolates (AG1-4A and AG7-3) were identified as Mucor spp., three isolates (AG2- 4A, AG4-6, and AG4-7) were identified as Beauveria bassiana, three isolates (AG3-1B, AG4-4A, and AG7-2) as Trichoderma spp., two isolates (AG3-6 and AG5-1) as Microsporium spp., two isolates (AG6-5 and AG7-7) as Aspergillus flavus, and the other rest isolates (AG3-2A, AG4-1B, AG7-4, and AG7-6) were identified as Phoma tracheiphila, Penicillium sp., Fusarium oxysporum, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, respectively. Further test will be needed in order to confirm the identity of these isolates